OUT OF CONTEXT!

I don't know how often I've seen or heard the words of Jesus 'the truth shall set you free' quoted out of context. They are sometimes even used by those who have no commitment to Christ at all but even Christians forget or neglect to look carefully at the background in which the words occurs.

The words quoted are lifted out of a long conversation (Jn 8.30-59) Jesus had with those 'who believed him' (v. 31). And for at least two reasons, they are often misapplied.

First, these words were primarily directed to those 'who believed him'. In other words, a group of budding disciples of Jesus. They had listened to his words in the preceding interaction with the Pharisees (Jn 8.13-29) and these led them to believe in Him (v. 30).

The quoted words are preceded by Jesus saying to these new believers, If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (Jn 8.31-32). If you abide in My word are critical words because they qualify what comes next. If any fail to abide, to continue in, to hold fast to what Jesus taught then then they don't come to know the truth that brings freedom.